Automatic watering of worksite

ABSTRACT

A method for automatic watering of a zone on a worksite by a watering truck is provided. The method includes identifying a boundary of the zone on the worksite. The method further includes determining a position and heading of the watering truck on the worksite. The method further includes detecting if the position and the heading of the watering truck on the worksite is such that the watering truck is within the identified boundary of the zone. The method also includes selectively triggering one or more spray heads of the watering truck based, at least in part, on the detection.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a worksite management system, and moreparticularly to a system and method for control of watering of aworksite.

BACKGROUND

Watering of a worksite may be done using a watering truck to spray watergenerally about the worksite. These watering trucks may be manned,autonomous or semi-autonomous machines that distribute water todifferent areas of the worksite on which the watering truck operates.The watering truck traverses the worksite from one work location toanother, sometimes over or under watering specific areas on theworksite. For example, the worksite may be divided into zones requiringwatering, such that that the operator drives the watering truck todistribute water to a certain subset of the zones. Accordingly, thesezones are appropriately watered via the manipulation of wateringcharacteristics of equipment on the watering truck.

However, the zones may be non-sequential, larger, and include complexgeometric areas; due to which proper water distribution among someportions of the zones may not be achieved. Thus, in such situations,manual intervention of the operator of the watering truck is required tocontrol the water distribution.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,719, hereinafter referred to as the '719 patent,relates to method and system for controlling work site dust conditions.The '719 patent describes a mobile dust control machine configured totreat a dust condition within a work location. The '719 patent alsodescribes monitoring a dust condition of the work location, andemploying the mobile dust control machine based on the monitoring.However, the '719 patent does not describe automatic watering ofspecific portions of the worksite.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect of the present disclosure, method for automatic wateringof a zone on a worksite by a watering truck is provided. The methodincludes identifying a boundary of the zone on the worksite. The methodfurther includes determining a position and a heading of the wateringtruck on the worksite. The method further includes detecting if theposition and the heading of the watering truck on the worksite are suchthat the watering truck is within the identified boundary of the zone.The method also includes selectively triggering one or more spray headsof the watering truck based, at least in part, on the detection.

Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary watering truck,according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary watering system of thewatering truck of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 3 to 6 are schematic views of a worksite and the watering truck inoperation thereon, according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for automatic watering by the wateringtruck, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to specific aspects or features,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a rear view of an exemplary watering truck 100,according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The wateringtruck 100 may be configured to dispense a fluid. The watering truck 100of FIG. 1 is shown as a truck, typically used in off-highwayapplications, capable of dispensing the fluid. However, other types ofmobile machines may be employed, for example, articulated trucks,on-highway trucks, tractor-scrapers, tractors in combination withtrailers, and the like.

The watering truck 100 may include a variety of piping, hoses, pumps andvalves for fluid transmission and/or distribution purposes. Inparticular, the watering truck 100 is configured to spray water at aworksite 300 (see FIG. 3). However, the present disclosure may alsoapply to other types of mobile machines configured to distribute wateror other types of fluids in a wide variety of applications. For example,a tractor pulling a trailer may be used to distribute chemicals inagricultural settings, an on-highway truck may be configured to spray asaline solution on roads, runways, or parking lots to melt snow and ice,or other varieties of applications and setups may be used.

The watering truck 100 includes an engine (not shown), for example, aninternal combustion engine or any other power source, which may besupported on a frame 102 of the watering truck 100. Although differentarrangements and setups are contemplated, as shown in FIG. 1, thewatering truck 100 includes among other systems, a fluid dispensingarrangement 104 disposed on the frame 102. The fluid dispensingarrangement 104 may be powered by the engine. Further, the engine isconfigured to provide power to a number of other systems and devices(not shown) in addition to the fluid dispensing arrangement 104. Thefluid dispensing arrangement 104 includes a fluid source 106 and one ormore spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 fluidly connected thereto.The fluid dispensing arrangement 104 further includes a delivery pump110 mechanically coupled to a motor 118 and fluidly connected to thefluid source 106. The delivery pump 110 is configured to deliver thepressurized fluid.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fluid dispensing arrangement 104 furtherincludes a fluid manifold 112, and the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3,108-4 (four in number shown in FIGS. 1, 3-6) mounted onto the fluidmanifold 112. The fluid manifold 112 is fluidly coupled to the deliverypump 110 and configured to receive the pressurized fluid from thedelivery pump 110. The spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 areconfigured to dispense the pressurized fluid. Although four spray heads108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 are shown in accompanying figures, it is tobe noted that number of spray heads mounted onto the fluid manifold 112is merely exemplary in nature and hence, non-limiting of thisdisclosure. Any number of the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 maybe employed in the fluid dispensing arrangement 104 depending onspecific requirements of the application. Moreover, the spray heads108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 may be mounted on the watering truck 100 atany desired location or orientation to provide suitable coverage of theworksite 300. In one embodiment, the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3,108-4 are positioned as to provide a desired spray pattern having awidth suitable to cover a predetermined surface area of the worksite300, such as a portion of a typical mine haul road, without having thevarious sprays overlap.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fluid dispensing arrangement 104 furtherincludes an electronic control module (ECM) 114 electrically connectedto the motor 118. The ECM 114 controls one or more actuators (not shown)associated with the motor 118 of the fluid dispensing arrangement 104.Further, the ECM 114 is electrically connected to a pressure sensor (notshown) located at the fluid manifold 112 and the spray heads 108-1,108-2, 108-3, 108-4 via one or more solenoids 116.

The ECM 114 is configured to modulate a speed of the motor 118 such thata fluid output from the delivery pump 110 is varied, i.e., a flow rateand/or pressure of the fluid from the delivery pump 110 are varied.Varying the fluid output from the delivery pump 110 may increase ordecrease a pressure of the fluid. In an embodiment, the dispensing ofthe fluid from the watering truck 100 is based on an automated command.Based on the automated command, the ECM 114 transmits correspondingcontrol signals for controlling an operation of the spray heads 108-1,108-2, 108-3, 108-4 of the fluid dispensing arrangement 104.Alternatively, the dispensing of the fluid from the watering truck 100may involve a manual manifold 112 such that the spray heads 108-1,108-2, 108-3, 108-4 may be manually controlled by an operator todispense the fluid at an increased or decreased flow rate and/orpressure or operator command.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary automatic watering system 200, accordingto one embodiment of the present disclosure. The automatic wateringsystem 200 includes a position detection module 202. The positiondetection module 202 is configured to generate a signal based on acurrent position and a heading of the watering truck 100 on the worksite300. The heading is indicative of an orientation of the watering truck100 on the worksite 300. The position detection module 202 may be anyone or a combination of a Global Positioning System, a Global NavigationSatellite System, a Pseudolite/Pseudo-Satellite, and any other SatelliteNavigation System, an Inertial Navigation System or any other knownposition detection system known in the art. The position detectionmodule 202 may be provided on the watering truck 100.

In one embodiment, the watering truck 100 may additionally include anorientation sensor (not shown) configured to generate a signalindicative of the heading of the watering truck 100 on the surface ofthe worksite 300. For example, the orientation sensor may include, butnot limited to, a laser-level sensor, a tilt sensor, inclinometer, aradio direction finder, a gyrocompass, a fluxgate compass, or anotherknown device operable to determine a relative pitch, yaw, and/or roll ofthe watering truck 100 as the watering truck 100 operates at theworksite 300.

As shown in FIG. 2, the position detection module 202 may becommunicably coupled to a watering controller 204. The wateringcontroller 204 is further communicably coupled to a database 206. Thedatabase 206 may include any known data repository containing data thatcan be queried, stored, or retrieved by the watering controller 204. Thewatering controller 204 is located on-board the watering truck 100.Alternatively, the watering controller 204 may be located at a remotelocation. The watering controller 204 is configured to receive theposition signal and the heading from the position detection module 202.The watering controller 204 is further communicably coupled to the sprayheads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4. Accordingly, the watering controller204 is configured to operate the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4to deliver the pressurized fluid on the worksite 300.

The watering controller 204 is configured to determine the position andthe heading of the watering truck 100 relative to the worksite 300, andoperation of the watering truck 100 on the worksite 300 based on thesignal from the position detection module 202. The watering controller204 defines boundary conditions for the zone 302 on the worksite 300.The boundary conditions identifies a boundary 304 (see FIG. 3) of thezone 302 on the worksite 300. The boundary 304 is representative of avirtual demarcation of the zone 302 on the worksite 300. The boundary304 may include any regular or irregular geometrical shape.Alternatively, the watering controller 204 may retrieve the boundary 304from the database 206.

In operation, referring to FIG. 3, as the watering truck 100 approachesthe worksite 300 to perform the watering event and receives input fromthe position detection module 202. The watering truck 100 may be anautonomous or semi-autonomous truck configured to traverse the worksite300 about a path of traversal, shown as “POT”. The path of traversal“POT” may be a pre-defined or an extempore path provided to the wateringtruck 100. Alternatively the path of traversal “POT” may be determinedby the watering controller 204 in real time. The path of traversal “POT”associated with the watering truck 100 includes multiple passes on theworksite 300. An exemplary portion of the path of traversal “POT” isshown in the accompanying figures using a dashed line.

Based on the signals received from the position detection module 202,the watering controller 204 detects if the position and the heading ofthe watering truck 100 on the worksite 300 is such that the wateringtruck 100 is located within the identified boundary 304 of the zone 302.More particularly, the watering controller 204 selectively triggers therespective spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 that lie within theboundary 304 of the zone 302. In one embodiment, when the wateringcontroller 204 detects that the watering truck 100 is within theboundary 304 of the zone 302, the watering controller 204 furtheridentifies if an area of the zone 302 lying in the path of traversal“POT” of the watering truck 100 requires watering. This wateringinformation may be retrieved from the database 206.

As mentioned earlier, the watering controller 204 is in communicationwith the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 disposed on the wateringtruck 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the watering controller 204 selectivelytriggers the spray heads 108-1, 108-2 to start the watering event basedon the position and the heading of the watering truck 100 and thewatering requirement of the area. The watering controller 204 howeverdoes not actuate the spray heads 108-3, 108-4, since the region ofwatering of the spray heads 108-3, 108-4 does not lie within theboundary 304.

Referring to FIG. 4, as the watering truck 100 moves along the path oftraversal “POT” all of the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 aretriggered by the watering controller 204, thereby watering the area “A1”(shown using hatch lines). In this scenario, the watering truck 100 iswithin the boundary 304 of the zone 302, the region of watering of allof the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 is within the boundary304.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, once the watering truck 100 reaches theboundary 304 of the zone 302, the watering truck 100 is repositionedabout the path of traversal “POT” to achieve watering of another area,lying adjacent to the area “A1” on the zone 302 that is defined withinthe boundary 304. As shown in FIG. 5, during the repositioning of thewatering truck 100, the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 areswitched off or in non-operational state, since the watering truck 100is no longer within the boundary 304, as identified by the wateringcontroller 204.

Referring to FIG. 6, the watering truck 100 further moves along the pathof traversal “POT” for watering the area adjacent to the area “A1”.Since the region of watering of the spray heads 108-1, 108-2 is suchthat the said area “A1” is already watered, the watering controller 204switches off the spray heads 108-1, 108-2. Accordingly, as is clearlyseen, the watering event of the area adjacent to the area “A1” isachieved on operation of the spray heads 108-3, 108-4 by the wateringcontroller 204. This watered area is shown as A2 in FIG. 6 using hatchlines.

In one embodiment, the watering controller 204 may be communicablycoupled to a display unit (not shown) present within an operator cabinof the watering truck 100. Accordingly, the display unit may beconfigured to notify the operator of the discharge of the fluid on theworksite 300. The display unit may include any screen, monitor ordisplay panel known in the art. An exemplary display of the display unitincludes providing an outline or demarcation of the zone 302 on whichfluid is discharged on a map of the worksite 300.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, the watering controller 204 mayfurther be coupled to one or more sensors or components of the fluiddispensing arrangement 104 in order to determine a quantity of the fluiddischarged by the watering truck 100. More particularly, based on one ormore parameters associated with a flow of the fluid from the fluiddispensing arrangement 104, the watering controller 204 may determinethe quantity of the fluid discharged from the spray heads 108-1, 108-2,108-3, 108-4. The one or more parameters may include, but not limitedto, an area of the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4, pressure ofthe fluid being discharged from the spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3,108-4, speed of the delivery pump 110 and so on.

Additionally or optionally, the watering controller 204 may also beconfigured to determine if the area “A1”, “A2” is receiving a requiredamount of the fluid. The watering controller 204 may be configured toreceive signals indicative of a speed and/or the heading of the wateringtruck 100 in order to determine if the estimated quantity of the fluidis being discharged in a localized area on the worksite 300. Forexample, in a situation wherein the watering truck 100 is in astationary position on the worksite 300 and a relatively large quantityof the fluid is being discharged in the given area “A1”, “A2” on theworksite 300, the watering controller 204 may determine that the area“A1”, “A2” is being flooded.

The watering controller 204 may embody a single microprocessor ormultiple microprocessors that includes a means for receiving signalsfrom the position detection module 202. Numerous commercially availablemicroprocessors may be configured to perform the functions of thewatering controller 204. It should be appreciated that the wateringcontroller 204 may readily embody a general machine microprocessorcapable of controlling numerous machine functions. A person of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that the watering controller 204 mayadditionally include other components and may also perform otherfunctionality not described herein. It should be understood that theembodiments and the configurations and connections explained herein aremerely on an exemplary basis and may not limit the scope and spirit ofthe disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is related to a method 700 for automatic wateringof the zone 302 on the worksite 300 by the watering truck 100,industrial applicability of the method 700 described herein withreference to FIG. 7 will be readily appreciated from the foregoingdiscussion.

At step 702, identification of the boundary 304 of the zone 302 on theworksite 300 is achieved by the watering controller 204. At step 704,determination of the position and the heading of the watering truck 100on the worksite 300 is achieved by the watering controller 204 based onthe position signal received from the position detection module 202. Inan example, the position detection module 202 determines the positionand the heading of the watering truck 100 relative to the boundary 304.

At step 706, the watering controller 204 detects if the position and theheading of the watering truck 100 on the worksite 300 is such that thewatering truck 100 is within the identified boundary 304 of the zone302. At step 708, the watering controller 204 selectively triggers theone or more spray heads 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 for distributingwater on the worksite 300 based on the position and the heading of thewatering truck relative to the boundary 304 of the zone 302. Moreparticularly, if the region of watering of each of the spray heads108-1, 108-2, 108-3, 108-4 lies within the boundary 304 and the givenregion is not watered, the appropriate spray head is activated.

The components disclosed in reference to the watering truck 100, i.e.the position detection module 202 and the watering controller 204 assistthe operator of the watering truck 100 in achieving automatic wateringof the zone 302. Further, the method 700 enables the autonomous or thesemi-autonomous watering truck 100 to follow the set path of traversal“POT”, while the watering operation is controlled by the wateringcontroller 204. Further, selective operation of the spray heads 108-1,108-2, 108-3, 108-4 avoids re-watering of an already watered portion onthe worksite 300. Thereby reducing wastage, preventing overwatering,improving overall efficiency, and productivity of the process.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown anddescribed with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may becontemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems andmethods without departing from the spirit and scope of what isdisclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within thescope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims andany equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for automatic watering of a zone on aworksite by a watering truck, the method comprising: identifying aboundary of the zone on the worksite; determining a position and aheading of the watering truck on the worksite; detecting if the positionand the heading of the watering truck on the worksite is such that thewatering truck is within the identified boundary of the zone; andselectively triggering one or more spray heads of the watering truckbased, at least in part, on the detection.